UK

Miro and GenAI as drivers of online student engagement — from timeshighereducation.com by Jaime Eduardo Moncada Garibay
A set of practical strategies for transforming passive online student participation into visible, measurable and purposeful engagement through the use of Miro, enhanced by GenAI

To address this challenge, I shifted my focus from requesting participation to designing it. This strategic change led me to integrate Miro, a visual digital workspace, into my classes. Miro enables real-time visualisation and co-creation of ideas, whether individually or in teams.
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The transition from passive attendance to active engagement in online classes requires deliberate instructional design. Tools such as Miro, enhanced by GenAI, enable educators to create structured, visually rich learning environments in which participation is both expected and documented.

While technology provides templates, frames, timers and voting features, its real pedagogical value emerges through intentional facilitation, where the educator’s role shifts from delivering content to orchestrating collaborative, purposeful learning experiences.

Benchmarking Online Education with Bruce Etter and Julie Uranis — from buzzsprout.com by Derek Bruff

Here are some that stood out to me:

In the past, it was typical for faculty to teach online courses as an “overload” of some kind, but BOnES data show that 92% of online programs feature courses taught as part of faculty member’s standard teaching responsibilities. Online teaching has become one of multiple modalities in which faculty teach regularly.
Three-quarters of chief online officers surveyed said they plan to have a great market share of online enrollments in the future, but only 23% said their current marketing is better than their competitors. The rising tide of online enrollments won’t lift all boats–some institutions will fare better than others.
Staffing at online education units is growing, with the median staff size increasing from 15 last year to 20 this year. Julie pointed out that successful online education requires investment of resources. You might need as many buildings as onsite education does, but you need people and you need technology.

Jane Hart’s “Top 100 Tools for Learning 2025” is now available

“How Will AI Affect the Global Workforce?” [Goldman Sachs] + other items re: AI in general

On 08/22/2025, in Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, bots, career development, corporate / business world, economics, emerging technologies, intelligent systems, society, trends, UK, United States, workplace, by Daniel Christian

How Will AI Affect the Global Workforce? — from goldmansachs.com

Despite concerns about widespread job losses, AI adoption is expected to have only a modest and relatively temporary impact on employment levels.
Goldman Sachs Research estimates that unemployment will increase by half a percentage point during the AI transition period as displaced workers seek new positions.
If current AI use cases were expanded across the economy and reduced employment proportionally to efficiency gains, an estimated 2.5% of US employment would be at risk of related job loss.
Occupations with higher risk of being displaced by AI include computer programmers, accountants and auditors, legal and administrative assistants, and customer service representatives.

The Neuron recently highlighted the above item. Here is Grant Harvey’s take on that and other AI-related items:

Goldman Sachs’ says AI’s job hit will be real… but thankfully, brief.
Goldman Sachs says AI will lift productivity with only brief job losses, which we think means it’s time to shift our work mindset from set roles to outcome-based delivery, leading to more small teams who win back local market share from slower moving corporations.

UK businesses are dialing back hiring for jobs that are likely to be affected by the rollout of artificial intelligence, a study found, suggesting the new technology is accentuating a slowdown in the nation’s labor market. Job vacancies have declined across the board in the UK as employers cut costs in the face of sluggish growth and high borrowing rates, with the overall number of online job postings down 31% in the three months to May compared with the same period in 2022, a McKinsey & Co. analysis found. Tiwa Adebayo joins Stephen Carroll on Bloomberg Radio to discuss the details.

I talked to Sam Altman about the GPT-5 launch fiasco – from theverge.com by Alex Heath
Over dinner, OpenAI CEO’s addressed criticism of GPT-5’s rollout, the AI bubble, brain-computer interfaces, buying Google Chrome, and more.

Sam Altman, over bread rolls, explores life after GPT-5 — from techcrunch.com by Maxwell Zeff

But throughout the night, it becomes clear to me that this dinner is about OpenAI’s future beyond GPT-5. OpenAI’s executives give the impression that AI model launches are less important than they were when GPT-4 launched in 2023. After all, OpenAI is a very different company now, focused on upending legacy players in search, consumer hardware, and enterprise software.

OpenAI shares some new details about those efforts.

Partnerships to make higher education work for the workforce — from timeshighereducation.com by Brooke Wilson
Fostering long-term industry partners can enhance student outcomes and prepare them for the workplace of the future. Here’s how to get the best out of them

As the pace of change accelerates across all industries, higher education institutions face increasing pressure to ensure their graduates are prepared for the workplace demands of today – and tomorrow. Cultivating meaningful partnerships with industry is no longer optional; it’s necessary.

From curriculum co-design to experiential learning, universities can collaborate with businesses and industries in several ways to enhance student outcomes and strengthen regional economies.

The keys to strong university–non-profit partnerships — from timeshighereducation.com by Mariana Leyva, Martha Sáenz, and Itzel Eguiluz
Collaborative projects between universities and non-profits nurture empathy and allow students to make a real-world impact. Here, three educators share their tips for building meaningful partnerships that benefit students and communities alike

Collaborative projects between universities and non-profits nurture empathy and allow students to make a real-world impact. Here, three educators share their tips for building meaningful partnerships that benefit students and communities alike.

15 Quick (and Mighty) Retrieval Practices — from edutopia.org by Daniel Leonard
From concept maps to flash cards to Pictionary, these activities help students reflect on—and remember—what they’ve learned.

But to genuinely commit information to long-term memory, there’s no replacement for active retrieval—the effortful practice of recalling information from memory, unaided by external sources like notes or the textbook. “Studying this way is mentally difficult,” Willingham acknowledged, “but it’s really, really good for memory.”
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From low-stakes quizzes to review games to flash cards, there are a variety of effective retrieval practices that teachers can implement in class or recommend that students try at home. Drawing from a wide range of research, we compiled this list of 15 actionable retrieval practices.

And speaking of cognitive science, also see:

‘Cognitive Science,’ All the Rage in British Schools, Fails to Register in U.S. — from the74million.org by Greg Toppo
Educators blame this ‘reverse Beatles effect’ on America’s decentralized system and grad schools that are often hostile to research.

When Zach Groshell zoomed in as a guest on a longstanding British education podcast last March, a co-host began the interview by telling listeners he was “very well-known over in the U.S.”

Groshell, a former Seattle-area fourth-grade teacher, had to laugh: “Nobody knows me here in the U.S.,” he said in an interview.

But in Britain, lots of teachers know his name. An in-demand speaker at education conferences, he flies to London “as frequently as I can” to discuss Just Tell Them, his 2024 book on explicit instruction. Over the past year, Groshell has appeared virtually about once a month and has made two personal appearances at events across England.

The reason? A discipline known as cognitive science. Born in the U.S., it relies on decades of research on how kids learn to guide teachers in the classroom, and is at the root of several effective reforms, including the Science of Reading.

Teach business students to write like executives — from timeshighereducation.com by José Ignacio Sordo Galarza
Many business students struggle to communicate with impact. Teach them to pitch ideas on a single page to build clarity, confidence and work-ready communication skills

Many undergraduate business students transition into the workforce equipped with communication habits that, while effective in academic settings, prove ineffective in professional environments. At university, students are trained to write for professors, not executives. This becomes problematic in the workplace where lengthy reports and academic jargon often obscure rather than clarify intent. Employers seek ideas they can absorb in seconds. This is where the one-pager – a single-page, high-impact document that helps students develop clarity of thought, concise expression and strategic communication – proves effective.

Also from Times Higher Education, see:

Is the dissertation dead? If so, what are the alternatives? — from timeshighereducation.com by Rushana Khusainova, Sarah Sholl, & Patrick Harte
Dissertation alternatives, such as capstone projects and applied group-based projects, could better prepare graduates for their future careers. Discover what these might look like

The traditional dissertation, a longstanding pillar of higher education, is facing increasing scrutiny. Concerns about its relevance to contemporary career paths, limitations in fostering practical skills and the changing nature of knowledge production in the GenAI age have fuelled discussions about its continued efficacy. So, is the dissertation dead?

The dissertation is facing a number of challenges. It can be perceived as having little relevance to career aspirations in increasingly competitive job markets. According to The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, employers demand and indeed prioritise skills such as collaborative problem-solving in diverse and complex contexts, which a dissertation might not demonstrate.

Multiple Countries Just Issued Travel Warnings for the U.S. [Dillin]

On 07/06/2025, in Australia, Canada, culture, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, Europe, face-to-face, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, legislatures / government / legal, society, UK, United States, by Daniel Christian

Multiple Countries Just Issued Travel Warnings for the U.S. — from mensjournal.com by Rachel Dillin
In a rare reversal, several of America’s closest allies are now warning their citizens about traveling to the U.S., and it could impact your next trip.

For years, the U.S. has issued cautionary travel advisories to citizens heading overseas. But in a surprising twist, the roles have flipped. Several countries, including longtime allies like Australia, Canada, and the U.K., are now warning their citizens about traveling to the United States, according to Yahoo.

Australia updated its advisory in June, flagging gun violence, civil protests, and unpredictable immigration enforcement. While its guidance remains at Level 1 (“exercise normal safety precautions”), Australian officials urged travelers to stay alert in crowded places like malls, transit hubs, and public venues. They also warned about the Visa Waiver Program, noting that U.S. authorities can deny entry without explanation.

From DSC:
I’ve not heard of a travel warning against the U.S. in my lifetime. Thanks Trump. Making America Great Again. Sure thing….

I wish more faculty & staff members who work within higher ed would blog [Christian]

On 07/06/2025, in blogs / blogging / vlogging, colleges, communications, community colleges, Daniel S. Christian, faculty/staff, higher education, social learning / networks, social media, society, teaching & learning, UK, United States, universities, vendors, by Daniel Christian

The unexpected benefits of academic blogging | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect

DC: I wish more faculty and staff members would blog and share their knowledge with the public. I greatly appreciate those staff and faculty members that DO blog! https://t.co/CHfHbxICcL

— Daniel S. Christian (@dchristian5) July 4, 2025

Get yourself unstuck: overthinking is boring and perfectionism is a trap — from timeshighereducation.com by David Thompson
The work looks flawless, the student seems fine. But underneath, perfectionism is doing damage. David Thompson unpacks what educators can do to help high-performing students navigate the pressure to succeed and move from stuck to started

That’s why I encourage imperfection, messiness and play and build these ideas into how I teach.
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These moments don’t come from big breakthroughs. They come from removing pressure and replacing it with permission.

“How AI is Finally Unlocking Efficiency in the Legal Sector” [Basit] + other legaltech-related items

On 06/27/2025, in Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, change, copyright/ownership/NFTs, corporate / business world, emerging technologies, Europe, law schools, Legal operations, legal reform, legal technologies, legislatures / government / legal, productivity / tips and tricks, UK, United States, vendors, by Daniel Christian

The EU’s Legal Tech Tipping Point – AI Regulation, Data Sovereignty, and eDiscovery in 2025 — from jdsupra.com by Melina Efstathiou

The Good, the Braver and the Curious.
As we navigate through 2025, the European legal landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly in the realms of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and data sovereignty. These changes are reshaping how legal departments and more specifically eDiscovery professionals operate, compelling them to adapt to new compliance requirements and technological advancements.

Following on from our blog post on Navigating eDisclosure in the UK and Practice Direction 57AD, we are now moving on to explore AI regulation in the greater European spectrum, taking a contrasting glance towards the UK and the US as well, at the close of this post.

LegalTech’s Lingering Hurdles: How AI is Finally Unlocking Efficiency in the Legal Sector — from techbullion.co by Abdul Basit

However, as we stand in mid-2025, a new paradigm is emerging. Artificial Intelligence, once a buzzword, is now demonstrably addressing many of the core issues that have historically plagued LegalTech adoption and effectiveness, ushering in an era of unprecedented efficiency. Legal tech specialists like LegalEase are leading the way with some of these newer solutions, such as Ai powered NDA drafting.

Here’s how AI is making profound efficiencies:

- Automated Document Review and Analysis:
- Intelligent Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM):
- Enhanced Legal Research:
- Predictive Analytics for Litigation and Risk:
- Streamlined Practice Management and Workflow Automation:
- Personalized Legal Education and Training:
- Improved Client Experience:

The AI Strategy Potluck: Law Firms Showing Up Empty-Handed, Hungry, And Weirdly Proud Of It — from abovethelaw.com by Joe Patrice
There’s a $32 billion buffet of time and money on the table, and the legal industry brought napkins.

The Thomson Reuters “Future of Professionals” report(Opens in a new window) just dropped and one stat standing out among its insights is that organizations with a visible AI strategy are not only twice as likely to report growth, they’re also 3.5 times more likely to see actual, tangible benefits from AI adoption.

Speaking of legal-related items as well as tech, also see:

Landmark AI ruling is a blow to authors and artists — from popular.info by Judd Legum
This week, a federal judge, William Alsup, rejected Anthropic’s effort to dismiss the case and found that stealing books from the internet is likely a copyright violation. A trial will be scheduled in the future. If Anthropic loses, each violation could come with a fine of $750 or more, potentially exposing the company to billions in damages. Other AI companies that use stolen work to train their models — and most do — could also face significant liability.

AI will kill billable hour, says lawtech founder — from lawgazette.co.uk by John Hyde

A pioneer in legal technology has predicted the billable hour model cannot survive the transition into the use of artificial intelligence.

Speaking to the Gazette on a visit to the UK, Canadian Jack Newton, founder and chief executive of lawtech company Clio, said there was a ‘structural incompatibility’ between the productivity gains of AI and the billable hour.

Newton said the adoption of AI should be welcomed and embraced by the legal profession but that lawyers will need an entrepreneurial mindset to make the most of its benefits.

Newton added: ‘There is enormous demand but the paradox is that the number one thing we hear from lawyers is they need to grow their firms through more clients, while 77% of legal needs are not met.

‘It’s exciting that AI can address these challenges – it will be a tectonic shift in the industry driving down costs and making legal services more accessible.’

Speaking of legaltech-related items, also see:

Legal AI Platform Harvey To Get LexisNexis Content and Tech In New Partnership Between the Companies — from lawnext.com by Bob Ambrogi

The generative AI legal startup Harvey has entered into a strategic alliance with LexisNexis Legal & Professional by which it will integrate LexisNexis’ gen AI technology, primary law content, and Shepard’s Citations within the Harvey platform and jointly develop advanced legal workflows.

As a result of the partnership, Harvey’s customers working within its platform will be able to ask questions of LexisNexis Protégé, the AI legal assistant released in January, and receive AI-generated answers grounded in the LexisNexis collection of U.S. case law and statutes and validated through Shepard’s Citations, the companies said.

Hew Locke’s ‘Odyssey’ Flotilla Sails Through Global Colonial History and Current Affairs [Locke & Mothes]

On 06/11/2025, in art, creativity, UK, by Daniel Christian

Hew Locke’s ‘Odyssey’ Flotilla Sails Through Global Colonial History and Current Affairs — from thisiscolossal.com by Hew Locke & Kate Mothes
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Cultivating a responsible innovation mindset among future tech leaders — from timeshighereducation.com by Andreas Alexiou from the University of Southampton
The classroom is a perfect place to discuss the messy, real-world consequences of technological discoveries, writes Andreas Alexiou. Beyond ‘How?’, students should be asking ‘Should we…?’ and ‘What if…?’ questions around ethics and responsibility

University educators play a crucial role in guiding students to think about the next big invention and its implications for privacy, the environment and social equity. To truly make a difference, we need to bring ethics and responsibility into the classroom in a way that resonates with students. Here’s how.

Debating with industry pioneers on incorporating ethical frameworks in innovation, product development or technology adoption is eye-opening because it can lead to students confronting assumptions they hadn’t questioned before.
…
Students need more than just skills; they need a mindset that sticks with them long after graduation. By making ethics and responsibility a key part of the learning process, educators are doing more than preparing students for a career; they’re preparing them to navigate a world shaped by their choices.

How would you like the front of your house/apt looking like this?!

On 05/28/2025, in architecture, art, creativity, UK, by Daniel Christian

A Rippling Townhouse Facade by Alex Chinneck Takes a Seat in a London Square — from thisiscolossal.com by Alex Chinneck and Kate Mothes

Cultivating a responsible innovation mindset among future tech leaders — from timeshighereducation.com by Andreas Alexiou
The classroom is a perfect place to discuss the messy, real-world consequences of technological discoveries, writes Andreas Alexiou. Beyond ‘How?’, students should be asking ‘Should we…?’ and ‘What if…?’ questions around ethics and responsibility

University educators play a crucial role in guiding students to think about the next big invention and its implications for privacy, the environment and social equity. To truly make a difference, we need to bring ethics and responsibility into the classroom in a way that resonates with students. Here’s how.
…
Debating with industry pioneers on incorporating ethical frameworks in innovation, product development or technology adoption is eye-opening because it can lead to students confronting assumptions they hadn’t questioned before. For example, students could discuss the roll-out of emotion-recognition software. Many assume it’s neutral, but guest speakers from industry can highlight how cultural and racial biases are baked into design decisions.

Leveraging alumni networks and starting with short virtual Q&A sessions instead of full lectures can work well.

Are we overlooking the power of autonomy when it comes to motivating students? — from timeshighereducation.com by Danny Oppenheimer
Educators fear giving students too much choice in their learning will see them making the wrong decisions. But structuring choice without dictating the answers could be the way forward

So, how can we get students to make good decisions while still allowing them agency to make their own choices, maintaining the associated motivational advantages that agency provides? One possibility is to use choice architecture, more commonly called “nudges”: structuring choices in ways that scaffold better decisions without dictating them.
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Higher education rightly emphasises the importance of belonging and mastery, but when it ignores autonomy – the third leg of the motivational tripod – the system wobbles. When we allow students to decide for themselves how they’ll engage with their coursework, they consistently rise to the occasion. They choose to challenge themselves, perform better academically and enjoy their education more.

Learning Ecosystems

Multiple Countries Just Issued Travel Warnings for the U.S. [Dillin]

Hew Locke’s ‘Odyssey’ Flotilla Sails Through Global Colonial History and Current Affairs [Locke & Mothes]

How would you like the front of your house/apt looking like this?!

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